Unusual cameras spotted, what are they?

Searcher22 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 22, 2006 Posts: 49

Hi All

A while ago a set of cameras appeared over each lane including the service area lanes on the Clacket Lane service area bridge. They look nothing like any other safety camera I have seen elsewhere though have a passing resemblance to the PIPS average speed camera but 'set' over each lane and consist of the camera and one small box (not tow) that makes me think of an IR illuminator.

Also, just today on a run up to the NEC I saw the same(ish) looking camera again on a cross bridge to the south of the Warwick services.

There are no road markings for speed measurement at either location.

Could they be numberplate recognition systems to detect stolen and uninsured/untaxed vehicles?

Anyone got an insight in these ones?

Smile

mikealder · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:57 am Post subject:

They sound like ANPR - one of the site members (Andyuk99) sent me a picture of the Clacket lane installation, perhaps others can confirm what they are? - Mike

And a little closer:

Searcher22 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 22, 2006 Posts: 49

Ah, good pointer to ANPR. A quick Google does seem to ID the Clacket Lane ones as the pipstechnology (pips clearly do not just make average speed camera system such as the ones at the M25 roadworks south of the Dartford Tunnel) ones with integral IR illuminators but from the brief glimpse I had of the ones on the M40 they had a separate box but their single location i.e. no obvious ones elsewhere within a couple of miles of them does not suggest an average speed setup?

Searcher22 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 22, 2006 Posts: 49

Hmmm!!!! I found some other interesting information here http://www.ha-research.gov.uk/projects/index.php?id=418 where it says this :-

"Journey time data for the M60 has been collected using Automatic Number-Plate Recognition (ANPR) System and the data has been given to HETA and the Greater Manchester Traffic Unit. ANPR cameras are currently being installed on the M6, M5, M40/M42 near Birmingham to collect journey time information."

Now could journey time be interpreted as average speed(s) even though the cameras are many ten's of miles apart?

I recall reading something a while ago about the French toll roads where it was suggested that as the entry ticket was time stamped and the exit payment time was logged the speed could be calculated and (possibly) used to prosecute for speeding infringements.

GJF · Frequent Visitor Joined: Feb 08, 2007 Posts: 894

Found thisHERE which are downloads on data sheets from Pips Technology, some of the case studies are interesting and also gives camera detail.

I heard that although cameras ID to numberplates was available and used, computers couldn't track all cars across the country as they were not big enough to cope with all the info, so for long distance recognition they only read the centre part of the number plate - do you know if this is true?
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Skippy · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject:

iankb · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:03 am Post subject:

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